Flue-opening closure.



I'. ARCHIBALD.

PLUE OPENING GLOSURE. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 25, 1912. Bmmwnn 00T. 11,1914.

1HE NRRls PETERS C0., PHDTILLITHD.. WASHINGYUN. D. A:A

FREDERICK ARCHIBALD, 0F VIRGINIA, MINNESOTA.

FIUE- OPENING CLOSURE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

Application filed .Tune 25, 1912, Serial No. 705,823. Renewed October17, 1914. Serial No. 867,243.

TQ all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK ARCHIBALD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Virginia, in the county ofy St. Louis and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flue-Opening Closures; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to Hue opening closures, and it more particularlyrelates to an improved closure and a combination of elements forsecuring the closure in Hxed relation to the Hue opening.

The object of the invention is to provide a Hue opening closure withimproved fastening means, whereby the closure may be quickly and easilyapplied to the Hue opening or removed therefrom, but which rendersaccidental removal of the closure practically impossible.

With this object in view the invention consists of an improvedconstruction, arrangement and combination of parts of a Hue openingclosure, which will be hereinafter fully described and afterwardspeciHcally claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate an approved embodiment ofmy invention,-Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a Hue andHue opening closure, certain parts of the latter being in elevation,and, Fig. 2 is a reduced detail perspective view of the device.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views, the wall of a Hue isdesignated by the numeral 5 and the Hue opening thereof is designated 6.The body member of the closure consists of a concavo-convexed portion 8,a central Hat disk portion 9, a circular shoulder 10, an annular wall 11and a peripheral Hange 12 curved in cross-section, the interior of thelatter comprising a seat for a packing ring 13, of asbestos or the like.The shoulder 10 constitutes a seat which engages the inner end of thespiral spring 14, the apex of the spiral spring comprising a loop 15,through which an actuating rod 16 extends, said rod also extendingthrough a central aperture 17 in the disk 9. The rod 16 also extendsthrough a cap 18, said rod being provided with a head 19, which engagesthe outer surface of the cap, while a washer 20 is interposed betweenthe loop 15 and the inner surface of said cap. To the rod 16 arepivotally connected the oppositely extending spears or pointed rods 21,the latter also being pivotally connected at 22 to links 23.

Secured to the inner surface of the body member, is a bar 24, to theends of which are connected the ends of the links 23 respectively, bymeans of the pivots 25; and it will be seen, that as the rod 16 is movedinward of the Hue opening, the spears and links will be moved upon theirseveral pivotal connections, into the position shown in dotted lines. Itwill be ,seen therefore, that each size of Hue opening closure, of thisconstruction, is adapted to be fitted to several different sizes ofstove pipe openings.

Loops or handles 26 are secured to the annular wall 11, and are adaptedfor placing and removing the closure.

In operation, the handles 26 are preferably grasped with each handrespectively, with the thumbs bearing upon the cap 18, and therebycompressing the spring 14, forcing the rod 16 inward, and causing thepointed spear ends 27 to approach each other, as in the dotted lineposition, whereupon, the body member and packing ring 13 are seated uponthe face of the outer wall of the chimney adjacent to the Hue opening,as shown, and the thumbs are removed from the cap, thereby allowing itto assume the full line position, so that the spear points will enterthe walls of the Hue opening, as shown in full line. Obviously, anypressure against the interior surface of the body portion, tending toremove the same from the Hue opening, exerts a pressure upon the pivots22, and tends to supplement and auxiliate the outward pressure of thespring 26, thereby causing the spear points to more deeply pierce thewalls of the Hue opening, and increase the anchoring eiiciency of themechanism.

It will be seen that I have provided an improved device of thischaracter which is fully capable of attaining the foregoing objects, andin a thoroughly practical and eHicient manner.

I do not limit my invention to the exact details of construction,combination and arrangement of parts as herewith described andillustrated, but my invention may only be limited by a reasonableinterpretation of the claims.

I claim 1. In a flue opening closure, a plate adapted to fit over theflue opening and having a central aperture and an annular shouldersurrounding the central aperture, anchoring means movably secured to theinner surface of the closure, a rod coperatively connected with theanchoring means and extending through the central aperture, a cap on theouter end of the rod, and a spiral spring fitted into the annular seatand extending outwardly into such relation with the rod that the latteris thereby held normally out* ward, the rod being in such relation withthe cap that the latter is adapted for actuating the rod.

2. A iue closure comprising a plate adapted to cover the flue openingand having a central aperture, a rod slidaloly mounted in said aperture,a spring seated on the outside of the plate and normally pressing therod outward, a link movably connected to each side of the inside of theplate and extending transversely across the opening when the closure isin place, and pointed bars pivotally connected at their inner ends tothe rod and near their outer ends with the ends of the links.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK ARCHIBALD.

1Witnesses:

L. M. OsBoRN,y ARVID EKLUND.

Copies ot this patent may bo obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner et Eatentu,

Washington, IB. C."

